Château Ferrière 2019

Restrained yet of immense aromatic complexity, it has substance and breed, remarkable density, first-class tannins and spectacular length; a great wine that should age — even better than en primeur.

Stylish, with a suave mouthfeel to its mix of lilac, cassis, black cherry and warm earth notes. Features a nice tug of dark tobacco at the very end, too. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032.

Dark and not so expressive on the nose, a bit hidden with black chocolate and blackcurrant aromas. Great textural quality here, this feels precise and defined. Grippy tannins for sure, but they have a lovely mouthfeel, cooling with a clear, mineral, wet stone quality. I love the abundance and generosity and then such a minty fresh finish, really so cooling. Great stuff and one I really wanted another glass of.

Blackberries, blackcurrants, violets, bitter chocolate, clay and gravel on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, very fine and integrated tannins. Beautiful texture. Structured, yet with a soft, supple feel. Subtle. 20% in concrete eggs. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 5% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Try in 2025.

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. Barrel sample. Deep colour. Pure but restrained with a dark-fruit nuance. Hint of mint as well. Fruit is clean and juicy with good depth but masked by the oak (awkward stage of prise de bois). Should be absorbed but currently leaves a drying finish. Could well merit a higher score. (JL)

The 2019 Ferrière was tasted from a bottle sent by Clare Lurton following our conversation via Zoom. This Margaux has a really lovely bouquet of black plum and hints of blue fruit and crushed violet, then later orange zest. The palate is rounded and smooth. While not as deep or as grippy as others, this is endearingly harmonious and sensual, with a pure, caressing finish. I like the detail here, something I never used to find in Ferrière when I was tasting it 15 or 20 years ago. A delightful 2019 that might be deceptively long-lived.

Clearly, this is the best vintage of Chateau Ferriere ever produced. Black raspberries and flowers with tobacco leaf are what you find on the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, silky, and fresh, with a beautiful purity of fruit on the palate that carries through to the bright, vibrant, spicy finish. The wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2026-2050.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Fresh cassis, black cherries, a hint of fresh figs, some cocoa and nougat, inviting bouquet, a hint of cloves. Juicy, good complexity and freshness, supporting, well-integrated tannins, mineral, a robust and at the same time animating food wine with good ageing potential.

Rich depth to the colour, and the gunsmoke reduction that I am finding across the range, opens up to show character and concentration. Has momentum and precision, eucalyptus and white pepper spice, fresh acidities. Showed successfully En Primeur and the depth of fruit is still there. 40% new oak, 20% amphora, rest one-year-old barrels. The Petit Verdot in the blend is over 70 years old. 30 hl/ha yield.

A lively, exciting nose of wild, ripe and sweet red fruits, languorous late-afternoon flowers, blond tobacco and cherry stone. The palate is elegant, fluid, easy-drinking, brimming with energy. A wine that dances on the palate and sets the taste buds alight.

Aged for 18 months: 40% in new barrels, 40% in one-wine barrels, and 20% in TAVA-type amphorae. These vessels are made solely of terracotta but are less porous than usual jars, as the terracotta is fired at 1200 degrees instead of the customary 900 degrees. The bouquet is elegant and indicative of Cabernet Sauvignon, with notes of blackcurrant. The palate is savory and fresh. The tannins are velvety, perfectly integrated, and the whole wine shows pleasant roundness as well as freshness. A delight of finesse!

The nose is fruity and offers a touch of power within its richness, a lovely grain, and purity. It reveals notes of fleshy blackcurrant, crushed/jammy raspberry and, more slightly, crushed redcurrant, combined with hints of violet and licorice, as well as a fine touch of cola. The palate is fruity, fresh, and balanced, offering lovely juiciness/brightness of fruit, a lively juicy-acidic backbone, and purity. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of vibrant cherry, vibrant redcurrant and, more slightly, jammy red berries, combined with touches of juicy/tangy blackberry, as well as hints of blue fruits, cola, caramelization, and a subtle touch of vanilla. The tannins are precise and velvety. Good length. Lovely fruit juiciness and freshness. A discreet hint of eucalyptus in the background/on the finish.

Dark, intense, purple color. Very aromatic nose with pure, ripe fruit. Complex. Precise on the attack, particularly flavorful mid-palate, with plenty of taste; the wine caresses the palate, showing a more complex aromatic dimension than in previous vintages. It finishes with lovely sappy length and, above all, fine grain. This is very good. Estate on the rise.

The wine is dense and concentrated. Its deep black plum fruits and solid tannins have weight and density. The wine does keep a sense of proportion in its balance and juicy aftertaste. Drink from 2026. Organic and biodynamic.